History of Inyathelo

An introduction to Inyathelo

The South African Institute for Advancement (Inyathelo) was established as a non-profit trust in October 2002 with two core mandates: to promote philanthropy in South Africa and to develop the capacity of institutions and non-profit organisations (NPOs) to achieve their objectives in a sustainable manner through the development of local Advancement knowledge and practice. Inyathelo’s application of “Advancement” practice is based on an integrated and inclusive approach through which organisations, in partnership with key stakeholders and supporters, move together towards achieving long-term sustainability.

In line with our objectives, Inyathelo focuses on two key areas:

  1. The sustainability of civil society organisations and institutions in order to strengthen our democracy
  2. The growth of a philanthropic movement in South Africa, founded on our African traditions of giving and sharing.

Between 2003 - 2010, the organisation trained over 2 500 people from large institutions and non-profit organisations at over 120 workshops, cadetships and conferences. Besides sustained capacity development programmes for non-profits and institutions such as universities and hospitals, Inyathelo has established a non-profit clinic that provides one-one-one advisory and mentorship services backed up by specific training as required. In addition, Inyathelo runs a major philanthropy promotion campaign that includes building awareness through the media, and the annual Inyathelo Philanthropy Awards, which have become a key event in South Africa’s philanthropic calendar.

Since its inception in 2002, The South African Institute for Advancement’s achievements include, amongst other things, the following:

  • Established a reflection, resource and training centre in Cape Town with well-equipped facilities and an excellent reference library.
  • Developed unique materials (including six videos) for training programmes related to Advancement, development, fundraising and non-profit governance.
  • Has published several booklets and reports on areas key to South African Advancement and philanthropy.
  • Through more than 120 workshops between 2003-2010, trained over 2 500 programme participants from universities, hospitals, further education and training colleges, museums, heritage institutions and the non-profit sector.
  • Pioneered an Advancement learning co-operative methodology with programmes for black women CEOs in the non-profit sector, and black entrepreneurs in tourism.
  • Provided and facilitated ongoing institutional interventions at various universities in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and elsewhere on the continent.
  • Developed a broad client base to ensure long-term sustainability and expanded its client base to other African countries.
  • Undertaken research into a range of areas related to Advancement, philanthropy and non-profit funding, including non-profit governance; a partnership-based research project into funding practices of the National Lotteries and National Development Agency; various donor-commissioned feasibility studies; and research into Higher Education Advancement in Southern, East and West Africa.
  • Provided advice, mentorship and encouragement to large numbers of non-profit organisations on an on-going basis.
  • Partnered with The Kresge Foundation in the USA to deliver a five-year programme to build Advancement capacity in South African institutions from 2006-10.
  • Partnered with The Atlantic Philanthropies to develop a five-year programme to strengthen Nursing Schools based at South African universities.
  • Partnered with The Atlantic Philanthropies to develop a four-year programme to build the sustainability of non-profit organisations operating in the human rights and rural poor sector.
  • Changed the discourse relating to institutional Advancement, creating a greater acceptance of good practice in the field in South Africa.
  • Developed a programme promoting youth philanthropy at South African schools that operated for four years at nine schools in the Western Cape.
  • Developed a major promotion of philanthropy programme focusing on individual philanthropy and the establishment of private foundations including a programme of philanthropy symposia and the Inyathelo philanthropy awards.
  • Since 2007 has identified, through the annual Inyathelo Philanthropy Awards, more than 30 individual and family philanthropists now recognised nationally as role-model philanthropists.
  • Captured the knowledge and learnings that emerged from our training programmes through the publication of booklets recording the experiences of programme participants. See our publications page for more details.
  • Run a range of conferences and retreats for the higher education and non-profit sectors, and for donors funding in South Africa.
  • Become a Co-operating Collection of the US-based Foundation Center, enabling Inyathelo to offer its clients access to a broad range of Foundation Center fundraising and philanthropy resources.
  • Developed an online funding prospects database, offering organisations and institutions the opportunity to conduct focused prospect searches to identify funders operating in South Africa.